President Bush will have lunch today at the George Bush Center for Intelligence, the headquarters compound of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, Va., named for his father, the former president and CIA director. He will get a private briefing on "the global war on terror'' and the conflict in Georgia.

If the soon-retiring president has not handed off the code for the football yet, he appears to be handing off the editorial pages of the Wall Street Journal to his possible successor, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

While the White House was busy "setting the record straight'' on the Journal's editorial tongue-lashing of the president for his handling of the sudden Russian incursion of Georgia, McCain was locking down the Op-ed page of the Journal with his essay today: "We are all Georgians.''

"For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call... After all, Georgia is a small, remote and obscure place,'' McCain writes in the Journal this morning. "But history is often made in remote, obscure places...

""The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked,'' McCain writes. "A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

Bush, visiting the CIA today for briefings and lunch with staffers, has postponed his August vacation plans for his ranch in Texas to remain in Washington as the Georgian crisis unfolds. And McCain, banking his campaign for the White House on his war-tempered world-experience and purported readiness for conflicts such as these - while Democratic rival Barack Obama finishes his own week's vacation in Hawaii -- is eager to demonstrate how he, as opposed to President Bush, might proceed in the face of Russian aggression.

The often more-friendly Journal, for its part, has rendered a quick and stinging judgment on the Bush administration's early actions, opining yesterday that "U.S. credibility is... on the line as the Bush administration stumbles to respond to the Russian invasion of Georgia. So far, the administration has been missing in action.''

This prompted a swift rebuttal from the White House communications machinery, which sometimes attempts to "set the record straight'' on reports of the press - adjustments more often applied to the reporting of, say, The New York Times, which is said to have a certain point of view and indeed rejected McCain's recent attempt at an Op-Ed piece.

"President Bush and his administration have taken aggressive action, both public and non-public, to manage this crisis,'' the White House reported last night:

On Saturday, Rice spoke with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Bush spoke with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Bush spoke withSaakashvili. Bush made a statement from Beijing; "This situation can be resolved peacefully. We've been in contact with leaders in both Georgia and Russia at all levels of government. Georgia is a sovereign nation and its territorial integrity must be respected. We have urged an immediate halt to the violence and a stand-down by all troops. We call for an end to the Russian bombings, and a return by the parties to the status quo of August the 6th."

On Sunday, Bush spoke with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the head of the European Union attempting to broker a peace between Russia and Georgia. U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft declared "a disaster due to the effects of armed conflict in Georgia and USAID provided an initial $250,000 for the local procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies.

The U.S. started airlifting Georgian troops home from Iraq.

On Monday, Bush discussed the situation in Georgia during an interview with NBC Sports, at the end of his Olympic visit: "I said this violence is unacceptable - I not only said it to Vladimir Putin, I've said it to the President of the country, Dmitriy Medvedev. And my Administration has been engaged with both sides in this, trying to get a cease-fire, and saying that the status quo ante for all troops should be August 6th. And, look, I expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of Russia and that we strongly condemn bombing outside of South Ossetia."

Rice hosted a conference call with her G7 counterparts. Bush spoke with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Bush, returning to Washington, delivered astatement upon arrival at the White House calling on Russia to end the crisis: "Russia's actions this week have raised serious questions about its intentions in Georgia and the region. These actions have substantially damaged Russia's standing in the world. And these actions jeopardize Russians' relations - Russia's relations with the United States and Europe. It is time for Russia to be true to its word and to act to end this crisis."

Bush spoke with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, Polish President Lech Kaczynsk and Saakashvili. The Department of Defense canceled a naval exercise with Russi, and the U.S. finished the airlift of Georgian troops from Iraq to Georgia.

On Tuesday, Bush spoke with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Rice made a statement after meeting with the president at the White House: "I want to make very clear that the United States stands for the territorial integrity of Georgia, for the sovereignty of Georgia, that we support its democratically elected government and its people. We are reviewing our options for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance to Georgia. But the most important thing right now is that these military operations need to stop. We will continue to work diplomatically on this matter and will continue our discussions with all the parties involved."

On Wednesday, Bush spoke with Georgian President Saakashvili and French President Sarkozy. Bush issued a statement in the Rose Garden announcing that Rice will travel to France and Georgia "to personally convey America's unwavering support" for Georgia's democratic government:: "We expect Russia to honor its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance. We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads, and airspace, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and for civilian transit. We expect Russia to meet its commitment to cease all military activities in Georgia. And we expect all Russian forces that entered Georgia in recent days to withdraw from that country."

Defense Secretary Gates directed the U.S. military to begin humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Georgia. A C-17 arrived in Tbilisi, Georgia, carrying $850,000 in medical supplies. Last night, a C-130 was to arrive carrying a survey team to prepare the way for further humanitarian assistance. State was sending 104,000 doses of antibiotics in response to a request from the Georgian Minister of Health. State was supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sending a team of surgeons to Georgia to help treat victims of the conflict in South Ossetia. The ICRC promised 15 tons of water treatment equipment and medical aid, "which will provide clean water for 20,000 people and medicine for about 400 wounded.''

That's a lot of talking in a few short days, a tenuous cease-fire in the mix, and a lot of humanitarian aid on the way. So what else might the U.S. do?

That's where McCain weighs in this morning:

"As Russian tanks and troops moved through the Roki Tunnel and across the internationally recognized border into Georgia, the Russian government stated that it was acting only to protect Ossetians,'' McCain writes in the Journal. "Yet regime change in Georgia appears to be the true Russian objective.

"Two years ago, I traveled to South Ossetia. As soon as we arrived at its self-proclaimed capital -- now occupied by Russian troops -- I saw an enormous billboard that read, "Vladimir Putin, Our President." This was on sovereign Georgian territory.

"Russian claims of humanitarian motives were further belied by a bombing campaign that encompassed the whole of Georgia, destroying military bases, apartment buildings and other infrastructure, and leaving innocent civilians wounded and killed. As the Russian Black Sea Fleet began concentrating off of the Georgian coast and Russian troops advanced on one city after another, there could be no doubt about the nature of their aggression.

"Despite a French-brokered cease-fire -- which worryingly does not refer to Georgia's territorial integrity -- Russian attacks have continued. There are credible reports of civilian killings and even ethnic cleansing as Russian troops move deeper into Georgian territory.

"Moscow's foreign minister revealed at least part of his government's aim when he stated that "Mr. Saakashvili" -- the democratically elected president of Georgia -- "can no longer be our partner. It would be better if he went." Russia thereby demonstrated why its neighbors so ardently seek NATO membership.

"In the wake of this crisis, there are the stirrings of a new trans-Atlantic consensus about the way we should approach Russia and its neighbors. The leaders of Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Latvia flew to Tbilisi to demonstrate their support for Georgia, and to condemn Russian aggression. The French president traveled to Moscow in an attempt to end the fighting. The British foreign minister hinted of a G-8 without Russia, and the British opposition leader explicitly called for Russia to be suspended from the grouping.

"The world has learned at great cost the price of allowing aggression against free nations to go unchecked. A cease-fire that holds is a vital first step, but only one. With our allies, we now must stand in united purpose to persuade the Russian government to end violence permanently and withdraw its troops from Georgia. International monitors must gain immediate access to war-torn areas in order to avert an even greater humanitarian disaster, and we should ensure that emergency aid lifted by air and sea is delivered.

"We should work toward the establishment of an independent, international peacekeeping force in the separatist regions, and stand ready to help our Georgian partners put their country back together. This will entail reviewing anew our relations with both Georgia and Russia. As the NATO secretary general has said, Georgia remains in line for alliance membership, and I hope NATO will move ahead with a membership track for both Georgia and Ukraine.

"At the same time, we must make clear to Russia's leaders that the benefits they enjoy from being part of the civilized world require their respect for the values, stability and peace of that world. The U.S. has cancelled a planned joint military exercise with Russia, an important step in this direction.

"The Georgian people have suffered before, and they suffer today. We must help them through this tragedy, and they should know that the thoughts, prayers and support of the American people are with them. This small democracy, far away from our shores, is an inspiration to all those who cherish our deepest ideals. As I told President Saakashvili on the day the cease-fire was declared, today we are all Georgians. We mustn't forget it.''

Comments

As much as I despise Bush, he is still the president and McCain has no business being involved in this situation what so ever!! Who the heck does he think he is? Had Obama done the same thing, all the right wing pundits would be screaming!!

The Bush Administration has been missing in action. So has NATO.
The violence continues. Ethnic Russian paramilitary groups are on a rampage (with a nod and a wink from Moscow) burning and looting, murdering and raping noncombatants.
Meanwhile in Ukraine the Russian Black Sea Fleet (deployed against Georgia) has been put on notice -- Moscow must give Ukraine a 10 working day notice for permission for the fleet to return to port. Also now no Russian ships or planes may leave port without a 72 hour prior notice. A minor inconvenience but a major humiliation for Russia.
Ukraine is certainly Moscow's next target. Putin has already made public threats against Ukraine, and Moscow has been trying to meddle in Ukrainian internal politics since the separation -- possibly to the point of attempted assasination of their elected president.
Thinking free people of the world certainly laud Ukraine's current brave defiance, but more than that is needed. NATO must return to being NATO -- that is the West's shield against the Russian Empire -- and membership must be expanded. That means that Germany, France Italy et al must stop prostituting themselves.

I would have thought we would have learned our lesson with listening to Chalabi which led us to terrible mistakes in Iraq. It seems we have not. Randy Scheunemann who was a lobbyist for Georgia until May 15 and his firm just recieved $200,000 for continuing to recieve "strategic Advise" is McBushs' top foreign policy adviser. There is no place in a presidential campaign for loyalty that can be very questionable. Where does this mans loyalty lie? For Georgia or the US? This man who recieved and continues to recieve money from Georgia has NO business in our government.

This is what the WSJ wrote about Nancy Pelosi going to Damascus a few years ago, and there was no war then!

'The Logan Act makes it a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for any American, "without authority of the United States," to communicate with a foreign government in an effort to influence that government's behavior on any "disputes or controversies with the United States.'

Sorry, Mr. McCain. Your campaign advisors may be paid lobbyists for Georgia, but the rest of us are NOT interested in another war.

Let's go to Georgia! I want the vicarious thrill of war and the taste of Russian blood. Send some young men and women over there Mr. President. I need something good to watch on TV this fall....it is time to buy more yellow ribbons.

Going virtually unreported is how Obama came (late as usual) to the McCain position about dealing tough with the Russian invaders. Obama started out blaming both the Russians and the Georgians and his staff blasted McCain for "shooting from the hip." Then, yesterday, a week after the fact, Obama finally acknowledged that Russia was the villain. Of course, this did not sit well with his Marxist supporters who still think the Soviet Union is alive and well.

Condi Rice was in Georgia in July; McCain claims to speak frequently with Saakashvili. It's clear that Saakashvili expected far more support from the West than he has received (more than just humanitarian aid a week later). One has to wonder what false promises Rice and McCain were making; and McCain's bluster sounds a lot like Cheney.... which is something to be concerned about, although it may just be opportunism, scoring as many political points as he can.

Darfur: no oil, stay out of it.
Tibet: no oil, stay out of it.
Georgia: world's second-largest oil pipeline, protected by US investments. Suddenly we must defend these poor, innocent victims from Russian aggression...

Posted by: bill r. | August 14, 2008 8:49 AM
Posted by: athena | August 14, 2008 9:29 AM
Have you two ever read a history book? Or a newspaper? The concept of NATO is to prevent war, and it worked for half a century. It's purpose is defensive. An attack against one member nation is an attack against the entire alliance. Ergo: post WW2 western Europe remain free and secure.
Nobody is proposing that the US go to war, airheads, just that a united free world force Russia to stand down.

Somehow there is no voice in the western media that speaks about the severe dislike Russia has with the proposed rocket shield.
It is understandable that it does look weary at all western attempts to secure more territory for willing coalitions who use the words freedom and democracy as starters for military action.
Since the United States has granted military equipment to a state that has two civil wars at hand, it is understandable that from a Russian point of view the belt around it's borders is getting ever more tight.
I can understand their reasoning and I must admit that the media coverage can obviously make a case for freedom and democracy, but not for geopolitical balance in Russia's backyard.
Quite frankly, to me this is Russia's business and none of NATO's or the US.

Have you two ever read a history book? Or a newspaper? The concept of NATO is to prevent war, and it worked for half a century.
Posted by: MJ | August 14, 2008 10:14 AM

I've read a history book or two...but did you read my post? It had nothing to do with war...it questions why a man on the Georgian payroll is allowed to be a top foreign policy adviser in a presidential campaign. You may like the idea of lobbyists in control of our government...but I don't.

Cos spagnoletti and others seem to be okay with dictators killing and oppressing their own citizens, but when the US unseats Hussein it's a crime.
Let's all stop aggression ONCE & FOR ALL- too bad no one told the terrorist that on 9/11! We didn't choose this, they did.
'A people free to choose will always choose peace.'
-Ronald Reagan

McCain writes in the Journal this morning. "But history is often made in remote, obscure places...

Well spoken McBush....remote and obscure like the backrooms with your top foreign policy adviser who just happens to be on the payroll of Georgia. Lobbyists have no place in our government and you have sold us out.

Personally,I much prefer McCains source on Georgia to that dudes from the south side of Chicago who thought Georgia was somewhere down south and grew peanuts.

Posted by: dan | August 14, 2008 10:29 AM

After reading your response "dude" , you're probably not old enough to know who or understand who Chalabi is or his role in the Iraq blunder was. Nor would you have a clue as to the danger of letting someone on the payroll of a foreign country be anywhere near a presidential campaign or a top fpreign policy adviser. But you get an A for knowing that Georgia grows peanuts. But can you find it on the map?

"[The Russians] want to re-integrate a large part of what was the Russian empire. They also want to make clear that they control the energy flows from that part of the world, as well as from Central Asia.
"I think, if we stand up to the Russians and push back, that we are much better off, because otherwise the Russians, given the way they usually operate, will keep pushing."
"And I do think that Georgia needs to be a part of the Western system and that we need to re-look at the various arrangements that we have with them and indicate to Georgia that we support their accession to NATO membership, ultimately."
Madeleine Albright
Former Secretary of State,
last night on PBS, Newshour
Of course she's right. And yes kids, there's oil involved (well, DUH!) That doesn't mean that the free world should not worry about their own security or the brutality now being visited upon the Georgians.
PS to bill r: I inferred from you're post that you questioned the legitimacy of McCain's comments vis-avis Russia's aggression. So now I infer that you agree with him in this particular instance. Welcome to real world.

The Russian Bear is on the move again. It has to be stopped before the new fledgling democracies in eastern Europe are destroyed by this evil government. Mr Putin, you are a ruthless NKVD agent that should go on trial for war crimes.

Your "real world" is no different to an argument and as such, there are three sides to it. My point is that we don't need someone in control of our actions when they are on the payroll of one of the sides. We allowed that to happen with Chalabi and it lead us to disasterous mistakes. We should have learned that from history. Why would you put the wolf in charge of the hen house?

JOHN MCCAIN HEARS THE VOICES!
I TOLD HIM SO!
DICK TOLD HIM SO!
BP TOLD HIM SO!
EXXON TOLD HIM SO!
SCHMIDT TOLD HIM SO!
HE IS A "I TOLD YOU SO MAN"
JOHN, JOHN HE'S OUR MAN,
IF HE CAN'T KEEP ALL SECRETS NO MAN CAN!
"WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF THE VISUAL"
WHAT YOU SEE TODAY IS NOT WHAT YOU HEARD YESTERDAY!
"FEAR IS A GREAT MOTIVATOR" DON'T YOU FEAR HIM!
SO WHAT IF HE IS 72 YEARS OLD AND ON DISABILITY!
SO WHAT IF HE IS A "ONE TERM" LAME DUCK PRESIDENT!
HE HEARS THE VOICES!
HIS HAND IS IN THE "BIG OIL COOKIE JAR"
HIS HAND IS IN THE "BIG DAIRY COOKIE JAR"
"THE HUNT FOR OCTOBER" IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
WE'RE ALMOST THERE!
HANG IN THERE!
OUR CULTURE OF CORRUPTION WILL SURVIVE AND THRIVE IN AMERICA AND IN "GEORGIA" OH SWEET, SWEET GEORGIANS"
BECAUSE BABY IT'S "COLD OUTSIDE" BECAUSE THIS IS WHY THEY CALL ME BIG POPPY! THROW YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR AND "PRAY"
SHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"IRAQ IS A MYTH"
"IRAQ IS A MYTH"
"IRAQ IS A MYTH"
JUST A SAND BOWLING FIASCO THAT NO LONGER "EXIST"
"MISSION ACCOMPLISH"
ALL LEADERSHIP IN AMERICA HAS BEEN "CAGED" PURGED" UNTO HIM!

"LISTEN UP RUSSIAN IDIOTS”
Podhoretz Neo-Cons and Leiberman Neo-Libs, America’s failed Crypto-Neo-Marxists, dictate to the Nations of the World: “Listen-up idiots, you shall do as I say and not as I do!”

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